THE PROBLEM OF EQUIVALENCE OF CULTURAL VOCABULARY IN LITERARY TRANSLATION

Abstract

The problem of achieving equivalence in the translation of cultural vocabulary represents one of the most persistent and nuanced challenges in literary translation. This article explores the theoretical underpinnings and practical implications of rendering culture-specific items (CSIs) from the source language into the target language while preserving their semantic, emotional, and contextual integrity. Literary texts are deeply embedded in the cultural realities of their native contexts, and the vocabulary used often carries references, idioms, customs, historical allusions, and worldview elements that are unique to a particular society. When translating such works, the translator is confronted with a critical dilemma: to what extent should the original cultural meaning be preserved, and when is adaptation or domestication necessary to maintain reader comprehension and engagement in the target culture? The paper discusses various translation strategies such as cultural substitution, descriptive translation, footnoting, borrowing, and calque, evaluating their effectiveness through comparative analysis of selected literary texts translated from English into Uzbek. Special attention is paid to lexical items related to religion, cuisine, clothing, social institutions, and folklore—elements that frequently resist direct translation due to lack of one-to-one equivalence. The article also draws on case studies of translated works by prominent authors to highlight the translator’s role as both a linguistic mediator and a cultural negotiator. Furthermore, the annotation examines how different approaches to equivalence—dynamic, formal, functional—affect the reader's perception and the authenticity of the target text. Ethical considerations are also addressed, including the risk of cultural distortion and the translator’s responsibility in either preserving the foreignness of the original or naturalizing it to suit the expectations of the target audience. Ultimately, the article argues that successful translation of cultural vocabulary is not a matter of finding exact lexical matches but of conveying meaning and resonance in culturally appropriate ways. It concludes by suggesting that translator training should place greater emphasis on intercultural competence and context-sensitive decision-making to handle cultural equivalence more effectively in literary translation.